I watched the movie Sicko the other night, and in my opinion it surpasses Bowling for Columbine as Michael Moore’s best film. In this film it is apparent that Moore has matured as a documentary filmmaker and his ability has evolved from tabloid-like cheap-shots into an essay-style documentary.

In the past, Moore resorted to distorting facts and introducing controversy simply for the sake of creating controversy. Instead of asking rhetorical questions, showing out-of-context quotes and not providing any real solutions as he has done in previous films, Moore has travelled to other countries in the world to find a better solution to the profit-driven health-care system in the United States.

He brought us to Canada, Britain, France and Cuba to show that a Universal healthcare system can work. Why should a Doctor have to make a choice to save someone’s life based on how much money they have and whether they are insured?

He asks a very good question in the movie. Why are healthcare companies getting rich by denying patients the treatment they need? Is it not a conflict of interest for insurance companies to be profiting when the end result is people not receiving the treatment they need? (Sometimes even to survive). The sole purpose for these companies to exist is to benefit people’s health, but since they are Private, profit driven organizations, saving people’s lives has a cost; and like any other private company, cutting costs means more profits.

Greed hits an ultimate low when people’s health is deteriorating while profits are rising and CEOs are becoming richer. I agree with Moore when he says that certain things should be socialized. Schooling, parks, land preservation, fire services, libraries and healthcare are things that should be controlled by the government, a proxy for the people.

It’s unfortunate that the corporate lobbyists in Washington play such a significant role in government decisions; because it would be extremely difficult to socialize healthcare while the insurance companies are making such significant profits.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/17948774650181520591 Crankyputz

This one is on my to do list, debating between the down load version or the cinema

http://www.georgepechtol.com/ george

there are times when truth smacks you in the side of the face like a fresh tuna (?), usually after you and moore ask these very types of question. sadly, the answers are in other movies… from “thank you for smoking” – “I just need to pay the mortgage”; and from “scarface” – “…when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women.”- g

http://www.blogger.com/profile/05700464364093364448 iBrett

Nice summary of the documentary. I agree that some of Moore’s past films arrive at questionable conclusions and (at the very least) come off as unfair and inadequately researched. I’m glad to read you view though that this one, Sico, is a departure from those more dubious films. I should like to see it.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/17948774650181520591 Crankyputz

watched the movie yesterday, and i almost died of laughter when he chartered the boat to guantanamo…